Phlox plant named ‘Rubymine’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Rubymine’, characterized by its unique green and pale yellow variegated foliage; upright plant habit; and numerous purple and light pink bi-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name Rubymine.

The new Phlox is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Phloxpaniculata cultivar Bright Eye Elite, not patented. The new Phlox wasdiscovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Den Hoorn, TheNetherlands, within a population of plants of ‘Bright Eye Elite’ in1998. The selection of this new Phlox was based on its unique variegatedfoliage. Plants of the cultivar Bright Eye Elite have solidgreen-colored foliage whereas plants of the new Phlox have variegatedfoliage.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative cuttings taken atDen Hoorn, The Netherlands since 1999, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Rubymine have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertilizer rate without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Rubymine’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Rubymine’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Unique pale yellow and green variegated foliage.

2. Upright plant habit.

3. Numerous light pink and purple bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Rubymine’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof a typical inflorescence of ‘Rubymine’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of the upper surface of mature and young leaves of ‘Rubymine’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants ofthe new cultivar grown in the field under outdoor conditions during thesummer in Den Hoorn, The Netherlands. Plants used in the photographs andthe detailed botanical description were about 30 weeks from plantingrooted cuttings. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar Rubymine.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Phlox paniculatacultivar Bright Eye Elite, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.

Time to produce a rooted liner.—About 30 days during the spring in DenHoorn, The Netherlands.

Root description.—Fine.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright, conical.

Usage.—Perennial garden plant.

Crop time.—From cuttings, about 30 weeks are required to producefully-grown flowering plants in 1.5-liter containers.

Plant height.—About 80 cm.

Area of spread.—About 30 cm.

Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.

Branching habit.—Freely basal branching; about four basal branchesdevelop per plant.

Stems.—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length:About 3 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 137A with random spots ofanthocyanin, close to 183A to 183B.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical,durable and long persisting. Length: About 12.5 cm. Width: About 4 cm.Shape: Elliptic to narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate toslightly cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, both surfaces: Leathery;somewhat rugose. Leaf margins of young leaves, pubescent. Venationpattern: Pinnate. Color: Variegated with irregular central greenpatterns surrounded by irregular pale yellow patterns extending towardsmargins. Young foliage, upper surface: Center, 137A; margins, 145A to145B, with anthocyanin, 183A to 183B. Young foliage, lower surface:Center, 137A; margins, 182A. Mature foliage, upper surface: Center, 147Ato 137A; interspersed between center and margins, random paler green,147C to 147D, spots; margins, 11C. Mature foliage, lower surface:Center, 191A; margins, 11C. Venation, upper surface: 147A to 137A.Venation, lower surface: 143C. Petiole: Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:About 2.5 mm. Texture, both surfaces: Smooth. Color: Upper surface 147Ato 137A. Lower surface: 143C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single salverform light pink and purplebi-colored flowers arranged in upright panicles; flowers face upward andoutward. Flowers not persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the summer fromJuly to early September in Den Hoorn, The Netherlands.

Quantity.—Freely flowering with about 175 open flowers and flower budsper flowering stem over the entire flowering period.

Fragrance.—Moderate; pleasant sweet fragrance, typical of species.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About 6 days.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 10 to 14 days.

Flower buds, about two days before opening.—Length: About 2.2 cm.Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovate. Color: 67A to slightly paler than67A.

Corolla.—Arrangement: Five-parted, petals fused at base into a slendertube, salverform. Flower diameter: About 2.9 cm. Flower height: About 2cm. Flower tube length: About 1.4 cm. Petal length from throat: About1.4 cm. Petal width: About 1 cm. Petal shape: Beyond tube, flabellate.Petal apex: Rounded to broadly acute. Petal margin: Entire. Texture:Smooth, velvety; tube, sparsely covered with very short, less than 0.1mm, whitish hairs. Petal color: When opening, upper surface: Close to155D; towards base, 57C to 66C. When opening, lower surface: Paler than66C to 66D; towards base, 66C to 66D. Opened flower, upper surface: 62C;towards base, 66B. Opened flower, lower surface: 68B. Throat: 66B. Tube:68D.

Calyx.—Calyx length: About 1.1 cm. Calyx diameter: About 4 mm. Sepalarrangement: Five fused at base, campanulate. Sepal shape: Linear. Sepalapex: Acuminate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, both surfaces:Smooth. Sepal color: Upper surface: 144C. Lower surface: 143B,anthocyanin towards apex, 183A.

Peduncle.—Angle: Upright to about 55° from stem. Strength: Moderate.Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Color: 141C to 143B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen quantity/arrangment: Five, adnateto corolla tube. Anther shape: Elliptic to ovate; basifixed. Antherlength: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: 4C to 4D. Pollen amount: Moderate.Pollen color: Creamy white. Pistils: Pistil quantity: One. Pistillength: About 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: 157A to157B. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: 145D to 157A. Ovary color:143C.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens or pests common toPhlox has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named‘Rubymine’, as illustrated and described.